a/n: i very much suck at specifying certain things. Everyone's been AR'd to their season 6 ages, but all their experiences remain. It ruins continuity, but i wanted it this way so its gonna happen. This chapter is just fluff.

5:45 am | that same day

Ever since Emily Prentiss had become Unit Chief, she'd made it her mission to get to the office before half past five. Today was one of those days she did not meet that goal. She rushed out of her DC apartment a frazzled but presentable mess, and she'd had nothing but terrible luck all morning.

She should have expected her car to break down in the busiest freeway interchange in the DC Metro Area. She was now stuck in the shoulder lane of a busy intersection with a dead phone and an Interpol phone that would do her no good.

Emily had to tell someone what was going on, but she had no way of contacting anyone at the office. AAA had already informed her it would take nearly three hours for their tow truck to come pick her car up, and she couldn't exactly ask an Uber to pick her up in the midst of mid-size sedans whizzing by at 70 miles per hour.

She cursed her luck and the phone she was holding for no other reason than the fact that she had to curse something. Looking down at her phone one more time, Prentiss scrolled through her contacts in the hope that a benevolent god had granted her a miracle.

They had. Emily spotted a name that she had skimmed by twice before. But she didn't know if it was a good idea to call him. It could do more harm than good...but did she have a choice? Her team would assume the worst, and she needed to put someone in charge to keep them in check.

The Unit Chief weighed her options carefully. Deciding that she had to make that call, she dialed the number of a certain FIO Bell.

Quantico, Virginia

FIO Bell may have gotten a little carried away.

He looked around with panic evident in his eyes as he realized that in the two hours he'd been in the office alone, he'd unknowingly completed nearly everyone's set of files for the week. Even Morgan's, and that was saying something.

He knew he was trapped. They'd know he'd been the office far longer than he claimed he would be, and it wouldn't take a genius to connect the dots. What, with his behavior, his obvious lack of sleep, combined with the fact that he'd been the most productive member (more than Reid!) despite being the newest; Bell knew the profilers would figure it out. He'd have to come up with a miracle of an excuse if he wanted to retain any semblance of distance between him and the family he'd tried so hard to stay away from.

Just then, his Interpol phone rang. Why is this thing going off? FIO Bell picked it up confusedly without looking at the Caller ID, assuming it was someone else.

"Dennis, I swear to god if this is another one of those national security meetings, I'm going to gouge your eyeballs out!" Bell said in one breath.

Prentiss failed to hold back a chuckle. "It's me, Bell." National Security Meetings? What is that about? she wondered. I have to look into that later.

"Ma'am-I'm so sorry, I was expecting someone else-no one ever calls-I apologize…Did you need something, ma'am?" Bell was uncharacteristically flustered.

"Yeah, I did, Bell. I've had terrible luck all day, and I don't think I'll be getting rid of it any time soon. I want you to go to Section Chief Cruz and inform him that I'm taking personal time for the rest of today. If they haven't arrived yet, gather the team in the conference room and explain the same once they're there. If you get called out on a case, leave without me, I'll catch up later."

Bell understood some of what she said, but…"Ma'am, a few questions. I've never met the Section Chief, I don't know how to talk to him. Also, how are we going to go out on a case without you? Should I tell Morgan he's been made Acting Unit Chief?"

Prentiss sighed. This part was going to be hard. "Listen carefully now, and don't interrupt me." She proceeded to explain everything and some more. As an FIO, he had the same security clearance as the Vice President. His clearance trumped everyone but POTUS. This meant something else. "So, even though Morgan has significant seniority...as per protocol since you have the highest authority on this team-more than me, even-you're the de facto choice."

Bell nearly dropped his phone. What. The. Hell. "So-you're telling me...that I'm ACTING UNIT CHIEF? Ma'am, all due respect, but I am hardly appropriate for the title."

Emily didn't want to hear it. "SOP, FIO Bell. As your superior, I am directly ordering you to assume the role of Unit Chief temporarily. You know what you need to do and all the paperwork, you've done it all before at Interpol. Goodbye." She hung up.

There was nothing standard about this operating procedure. She had full discretion as to who would take over her role in her absence. But she knew, this was a good way to bring the rest of the team together. Bell had succeeded in keeping them at arm's length for far too long.

Even Garcia didn't know where he lived or how he got to the office. He never drove. Garcia knew everything about EVERYONE. Prentiss knew the rest of the team immediately would understand her plan here. But Bell wouldn't.

Bell's mouth was left agape. How was he supposed to lead a team he had no idea how to lead?! He had no mandate! How was he going to explain this to the team?! They'd almost certainly disregard him. Bell only had one choice. Once the team got here, he'd tell Morgan that he should act as Unit Chief. Hopefully, they wouldn't get a case today anyway.

In the meantime, he had to go find a Mateo Cruz.

7:03 am

The remaining agents of the BAU walked in to the office together after a team breakfast that neither Prentiss nor Bell had chosen to attend, but that was not out of character for them. What was out of character was the sight before them.

"Emily AND Bell aren't here?" JJ asked incredulously.

"I don't think Emily's missed a day since she said she was going to quit!" said Morgan.

Reid added, "And Bell's always in the office before me."

"That kid's always the last one out and the first one in." Rossi noted. "Look at his desk anyway; those are your files. He's done all of them. And his bag is here too. Does he even leave the office?"

"I don't know, but where is he? And where is Emily?" Garcia asked worriedly.

"I'm sure she's fine for now, Baby Girl," said Morgan.

The group dispersed to their desks to finish the two or three files that Bell hadn't gotten to. Ten minutes later, Bell walked through the glass doors, looking around, making sure everyone was there. When he was satisfied that they were, he walked up the steps, and said loudly, "Can someone get Garcia and meet me in the round table room in two? It's time for the briefing."

The team looked at each other, perplexed, but obliged his request anyway. Once everyone was situated, he began. "Okay, so...Unit Chief Prentiss is taking PT for the day, she's had some car trouble. I've already spoken with her and Section Chief Cruz, and they told us we're still on call."

Ah, JJ thought. That's where he was, with Matt.

Morgan then asked a valid question. "In case we get a case, who's acting Unit Chief? I'm assuming that she named someone."

Bell sighed. "Yeah, so...about that. Um...she told me that since apparently I have the highest security clearance...it's me."

Pindrop silence, but a conversation was being had through glances. And just as Prentiss had predicted, the team all came to the same conclusion-Prentiss's master plan. With imperceptible nods, they all turned back to face a nervous and fidgety FIO Bell.

"Yeah, sure, it's SOP," said Morgan. It wasn't and they all knew it.

"Really?" Bell looked surprised that the team hadn't broken into riot yet. "Well, then I guess you're all free to go?" Wow. That went way better than expected.

Just as the team was leaving the room, and Bell thought he'd gotten away with a clean break, his phone chimed with a text message. From another Unit Chief.

Damn. "Um, hold up, guys," called Bell.

Before they turned around to face him, they all smiled at his dropping of the formalities he usually addressed them as.

"We've, um, got a case. Florida. I guess we'll um, brief on the jet?"

The team nodded.

"All right then. Wheels up in 20."